The Chinese National Standard for the definition and classification of coal macerals has been completed over 33 years (1980-2013) since the establishment of the Coal Petrology Group of the China Coalfield Geology Professional Committee, while the International Standard “ICCP system 1994” was completed over 26 years (1991-2017) by the International Committee on Coal and Organic Petrology (ICCP). However, after decades of development, there are still many differences in classification schemes at home and abroad. By comparing the Chinese classification scheme of bituminous coal maceral and “ICCP system 1994”, it is found that the evolution differences of the Chinese tertiary classification scheme are mainly reflected in the specific classification categories, whereas the differences at home and abroad are mainly reflected in the maceral classification categories and causes of the vitrinite and the liptinite. It is suggested that reasonable scheme can be selected by scholars according to studying habits and communication object. However, it is necessary to clarify the maceral and sub-maceral types under different classification schemes. As the most common and important maceral group in coal, inertinite can serve as an indicator for the occurrence of paleowildfires. The combustion temperature can be calculated based on the reflectivity of fusinite in the inertinite to determine the intensity and type of paleowildfires. The content of paleooxygen can be determined based on the relative content of inertinite. The retention and sedimentation of inertinite in the atmosphere and lithosphere can reflect the impact of paleowildfires on paleoecology. As an important influencing factor on paleoecology, paleowildfires can reveal information on the composition of the palaeoatmosphere and the succession of paleoecology communities through the analysis of macerals in coal. To some extent, this can help human explore the current global climate warming and the reasons for paleontological extinction during the key geological boundary.